Beyond Meat CEO Aims to Launch Vegan Burger at McDonald's

Ethan Brown says it's only a matter of time before the company's plant-based Beyond Burgers arrives at chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.

In a recent interview with media outlet Entrepreneur, Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown said that he believes the company’s plant-based Beyond Burger patties will soon be sold at chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s. “I'm very confident that's going to happen,” Brown said, “because I think the consumer is turning so quickly.” Beyond Burger launched at a Whole Foods Market in Boulder, CO in 2016 and has since expanded to 9,000 points of distribution. “Once we break the code and get to the point where it's indistinguishable from animal protein,” Brown said, “I think you will see that shift.” In 2016, Brown revealed that his goal was for his children—then 11 and 12 years of age—to drive to a McDonald’s when they turned 16 and order a Beyond Burger. The company has raised $72 million in venture capital to date, and Beyond Burgers are currently available at 465 locations of fast casual chain TGI Fridays, which pushes Brown’s goal closer to reality.